Canadian experience with civilian pilots allowed to fly following an acute myocardial infarction.
Concern has been expressed about allowing pilots to fly following an acute myocardial infarction. From the beginning of 1967 to the end of 1987, 141 Canadian pilots have been licensed following an acute myocardial infarction, 21 of these for the first time. About 200 pilots did not qualify for relicensure. The mean age (+/- SD) of 127 pilots who experienced symptomatic acute myocardial infarction was 46.8 +/- 8.2 years (range 21 to 70). All but one were males. Of 42 commercial pilots who were relicensed, only 11 returned to commercial flying, seven with a restriction. Of 130 private pilots, all but one returned to unrestricted flying. The mean time from acute myocardial infarction to relicensure was 4.3 +/- 2.6 years (range 0.6 to 14.9). During the years 1977-86 inclusive, for which records are available, there has been no aviation fatality in Canada attributed to a cardiac cause involving pilots licensed post acute myocardial infarction. One relicensed pilot crashed shortly after take-off and, with no evidence for cardiac incapacitation, his death was listed as accidental. Therefore, individuals who satisfy strict medical criteria can be licensed to fly post acute myocardial infarction without compromising air safety.
Wielgosz
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AT
Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario.
Dodge
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D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D012449:Safety